Nervous Disorders Observed Among Child and Adolescent TikTok Users, Media Reports

The Spanish press is discussing the nervous disorders observed among child and adolescent users of the popular social network TikTok. This was reported by Echo of Moscow, referencing the Spanish newspaper Vanguardia.

It is noted that since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been an increase in TikTok users seeking medical help for complaints of repetitive tics, coughs, involuntary facial grimacing, and spasms in various parts of the head and body. Recently, as reported by the head of the Movement Disorders Clinic in Barcelona, doctors have concluded that the majority of affected individuals are primarily girls and adolescents aged 10 to 14.

The symptoms appear suddenly; in the medical community, they are referred to as “TikTok tics.” This syndrome has exacerbated during the pandemic, when access to medical services and screening for various pathological manifestations have become very difficult.

The stress often associated with the pandemic has also intensified the situation. Specialists recommend that parents of children and adolescents monitor the content of social media posts, emphasizing the need for them to understand the meaning of the content they consume, and to discuss it at home, in school, and in forums.

It is clarified that the symptoms are not indicative of an organic disease, but rather of psychogenic and psychological origins. Treatment is carried out not through pharmacological means, but using psychological tools such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sometimes the issue arises and resolves spontaneously and quickly. In some cases, a longer treatment is required.

The publication draws attention to the fact that due to the active use of the TikTok social network, nervous tics are more frequently observed among girls, as they utilize the platform more intensively.